Basic
$2.71 – $3.27 per sq ft
1/2-in. ceiling-rated drywall screwed to joists, taped and finished to level 3 with a knockdown texture
Photo: Kotivalo · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
How Much Does Install Ceiling Drywall Cost in Chicago, Illinois?
Install Ceiling Drywall: national installed price range, materials and labor breakdown, and local pricing by ZIP code.
Install Ceiling Drywall in Chicago, Illinois typically costs $3.19 to $3.84 per sq ft as of 2026. Prices reflect local labor and material rates. Use our calculator below for a detailed, ZIP-code-adjusted estimate.
Install Ceiling Drywall in Chicago, Illinois
$3.19 – $3.84
per sq ftPrices in Chicago are 19.0% higher than the national average for install ceiling drywall.
National average: $2.77 – $3.34 per sq ft
What you get at each price level
Standard
$3.19 – $3.84 per sq ft
1/2-in. sag-resistant ceiling drywall, screwed to joists, taped and finished to level 4 smooth, ready for flat paint
Premium
$3.98 – $4.80 per sq ft
5/8-in. sag-resistant drywall glued and screwed, finished to level 5 with a full skim coat for a smooth, seam-free ceiling
Cost Breakdown in Chicago
| Component | Category | Price Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | material | $1.34 – $1.61 | sq ft |
| Labor | labor | $1.26 – $1.52 | sq ft |
| Supplies & Other | supplies | $0.35 – $0.43 | sq ft |
| Equipment & Disposal | equipment | $0.24 – $0.29 | sq ft |
Prices adjusted for Chicago local market conditions.
Install Ceiling Drywall photo examples
Close-up of a knockdown-textured drywall ceiling
Photo: Loadmaster (David R. Tribble) This image was made by Loadmaster (David R. Tribble) . Email the author: David R. Tribble Also see my personal gallery at Google Photos · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisDrywall finisher skimming a ceiling seam with a wide knife and joint compound
Rendering: BuildX
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Cost Factors in Chicago, Illinois
What Affects Pricing
- Materials ($1.25-$1.50 per square foot)
- Labor ($0.97-$1.17 per square foot)
- Supplies & Other ($2.77-$3.34 per square foot)
- Equipment & Disposal ($2.77-$3.34 per square foot)
Local Price Adjustments
Material costs7.0% above avg
Labor costs30.0% above avg
Labor costs in Chicago run proportionally higher than materials, which may favor material-heavy solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How we price this
BuildX Pro researches and reviews the national price range for Install Ceiling Drywall, then adjusts it to your ZIP code for local labor and material costs using the public data below. Last checked Sep 2026.
- Construction wages by metro and rural area, used for the labor adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Regional price parities for goods, used for the materials adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024
Get Free Estimates in Chicago
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